The New York Yankees head into the offseason determined to reinforce their pitching staff after a season plagued by injuries and inconsistent results in both the rotation and bullpen.
Among the club’s impending free agents, right-hander Luke Weaver stands out as one of the most dependable arms available. Over the last several years in the Bronx, Weaver has proven to be a steady presence on the mound.
Since donning pinstripes, Weaver has recorded a sharp 3.22 ERA across 162 innings, primarily coming out of the bullpen. In 129 total appearances for New York, he has accumulated 3.0 bWAR and a 127 ERA+, underscoring his above-average production.
At just 31 years old and entering a relatively thin relief-pitcher market, Weaver is positioned to command a multi-year contract this winter. His combination of youth, durability, and proven results makes him an attractive option for virtually any contender in need of high-leverage innings.
One club that could view Weaver as more than just a late-inning weapon is the San Diego Padres. With significant holes in their starting staff, the Friars might see the righty as a candidate to slide back into a rotation role.
“With Dylan Cease and Michael King both departing and Yu Darvish out for the season, the Padres will focus their offseason efforts on filling out the rotation, but don’t be surprised if they get creative,” Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report wrote.
“Luke Weaver has said he is open to returning to a starting role after finding success in the Yankees bullpen, while former D-backs prospect Jon Duplantier is an intriguing name to monitor after he logged a 1.24 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 128 strikeouts in 101.1 innings in Japan in 2025.”
San Diego has already enjoyed success converting relievers into effective starters, most notably with Michael King. The organization also appears willing to experiment with hard-throwing Mason Miller in a similar transition after acquiring him from Oakland.
Bringing Weaver aboard and stretching him out as a starter could give the Padres a cost-effective boost to a rotation that suddenly lacks proven options. For Weaver himself, the opportunity to reclaim a starting job in sunny Southern California might carry extra appeal—especially when factoring in the greater long-term earning potential that typically comes with being a rotation member rather than a reliever.
As the hot-stove season heats up, expect Luke Weaver’s name to surface frequently, whether as a high-impact bullpen piece or as a creative rotation solution for an ambitious club like San Diego.
